Adjustable docking line

ABSTRACT

An adjustable line for securing a watercraft to a structure having a closed cleating system may include a line body having first and second ends, a coupling system having a first portion and a second portion, each adapted to releaseably couple to one another, wherein the first portion is coupled to the first end and the second portion is disposed between the first and second ends a predetermined distance from the first end, and wherein the predetermined distance is sufficient to form a docking loop when the first and second portions are coupled to one another. A method may include maneuvering a watercraft alongside the structure, securing the second end of the line to the watercraft, threading the first end through an opening in the closed cleating system, and coupling the first and second portions to one another.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to lines used for securing watercraft; and more specifically relate to adjustable docking lines for dock rails and other closed cleating systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,083 is entitled “Quick-Release Cable Loop Assembly” and purports to disclose, “A quick-release cable loop assembly is described for mooring a boat to a dock. The assembly includes a throat block for releaseably interconnecting a ferruled end of a cable with a segment of the cable to form a loop there between. The throat blocks have a C-shaped socket for receiving the ferruled end. The socket has flexible ends that may be flexed inward to form a cylindrical enclosure for the ferruled end.”

U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,009 B2 is entitled “Adjustable Shock Absorbing Mooring and Utility Line” and purports to disclose “A shock-absorbing and adjustable-length mooring and utility securing line for mooring a boat to a dock in a marine environment utilizes a hollow, flexible tubing constructed of substantially inelastic fabric material and a bungee cord disposed within the tubing. The hollow tubing has a central section disposed between the opposite ends of the tubing, and the fabric material, the central section, is movable lengthwise between a gathered condition and a fully-stretched condition to accommodate a lengthening of the line as the opposite end portions of the central section are moved farther apart from a condition at which the central section is in a gathered condition and to accommodate a shortening of the line as the opposite end portions of the central section are moved closer together from a condition at which the central section is in a fully-stretched condition. The bungee cord is attached to the central section of the tubing for biasing the end portions of the central section toward one another to thereby bias the current section from the fully-stretched condition toward the gathered condition.”

U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,951 B1 is entitled “Boat Docking Rope Cuffs” and purports to disclose “A rope-fastening device used in docking a boat or other watercraft. The device comprises two adjustable locking rings, both of which can close around a rope or mooring line. Each locking ring has a plurality of gripping members on the inner surface to prevent the rope or mooring line from slipping through the locking ring.”

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a brief summary of one aspect of the invention disclosed herein, and without limiting the appended claims, an adjustable line for securing a watercraft to a structure having a closed cleat system may comprise a line body having a first end and a second end, a coupling system having a first portion and a second portion, each adapted to releaseably couple to one another, wherein the first portion may be coupled to the first end and the second portion may be disposed between the first and second ends a predetermined distance from the first end, and wherein the predetermined distance is sufficient to form a docking loop when the first and second portions are coupled to one another.

In brief summary, another aspect of the present invention comprises a method of securing a watercraft to a dock having a dock rail or closed cleat system including maneuvering the watercraft alongside the dock, providing a dock line having a first end and a second end, a coupling system having a first portion and a second portion adapted to releaseably couple to one another, wherein the first portion is coupled to the first end and the second portion is disposed between the first and second ends a predetermined distance from the first end, securing the second end of the dock line to the watercraft, threading the first end of the docking line through an opening in the dock rail or closed cleat system, and coupling the first and second portions of the coupling system to one another thereby securing the watercraft to the dock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one of many possible embodiments of an adjustable docking line utilizing certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates another of the many possible embodiments of an adjustable docking line utilizing certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates yet another embodiment of an adjustable docking line utilizing certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable docking line utilizing certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable docking line utilizing certain aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Figures described above and the written description of specific structures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope of what we have invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather, the Figures and written description are provided to teach any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention for which patent protection is sought.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all features of a commercial embodiment of the inventions are described or shown for the sake of clarity and understanding. Persons of skill in this art will also appreciate that the development of an actual commercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the present inventions will require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the developer's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Such implementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are not limited to, compliance with system-related, business-related, government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specific implementation, location, and from time to time. While a developer's efforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of skill in this art having benefit of this disclosure. It must be understood that the inventions disclosed and taught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Lastly, the use of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a,” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relational terms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like are used in the written description for clarity in specific reference to the Figures and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims. The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “coupling,” “coupler,” and like terms are used broadly herein and can include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon, or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, operably, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and can further include without limitation integrally forming one functional member with another in a unity fashion. The coupling can occur in any direction or directions, including rotationally.

In general terms, we have invented an adjustable docking line, or dock line, adapted for use when securing a watercraft to a dock or other structure having a closed cleating system, such as, for example, a dock rail, in which the docking line has to be threaded through an opening in the closed cleating system. The docking line may include a coupling system having two or more portions configured to be removably coupled to one another, thereby forming a loop through or about the closed cleating system. The adjustable docking line may comprise a line body having a first end and a second end. Attached to one of the ends may be a coupling device such as a hook, carabiner, or other latching component, which may, but need not, be removable. Preferably, the coupling device may be fabricated from a metal or other sufficiently strong material and also, preferably, the coupling device may be self-latching, such as, for example, having a closure portion that is spring-loaded or otherwise biased to a closed or latched position.

Coupled to the docking line along its length, such as adjacent or near the end having the coupling device, may be one or more receptacles each of which is configured to cooperate with the coupling device to form a secure docking loop there between. In at least one embodiment, the receptacles may be formed from the same material as the coupling device and may be, for example, metal rings of circular or other shape that are woven, imbedded into, or otherwise coupled to the line body, including being formed integrally therewith, in whole or in part. The terms “receptacle” and “ring” are used broadly herein and include, without limitation, any closed shape, or substantially closed shape, formed from any material or combination of materials, adapted to cooperate with a coupling device as described herein. For example, these terms include structure coupled to the docking line, or an integral portion of the docking line, separately or in combination. A ring may be circular, triangular, square, rectangular, or any other shape, such as oval. As another example, a ring may be formed from a metal rod bent into a closed shape, which may, but need not, include coupling the ends to one another, such as by welding. Alternatively, for example, a ring may include an integral loop formed in a portion of the docking line body, and may, but need not, include a guard, such as a plastic or metal grommet or thimble, coupled therein.

It will be appreciated that the second end of the docking line may be secured to the watercraft by any conventional means, such as by a loop and open deck cleat, or other means, permanently or removably. The first end of the docking line with (or without) the coupling device fastened thereto may be threaded through the opening in the dock rail or other closed cleating system and looped back toward one of the receptacles on the line body. By securing the first end of the docking line to one of the receptacles with the coupling device, the watercraft may thereby be secured in an adjustable fashion to a dock or other structure. While the adjustable docking line of the present invention has been described with the coupling device at one end of the docking line, alternatively, it will be appreciated that a receptacle can be coupled at an end of the docking line and coupling devices can be interspersed along the length of the docking line at predetermined distances, as required by a particular application.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-2B, one or more of the many possible embodiments incorporating aspects of the present invention will be described in detail and in conjunction with one another. FIG. 1 illustrates a watercraft 100 secured by an adjustable docking line 102 to a structure 104, here, a boat dock. For all purposes of this disclosure, watercraft refers to all types of water-born or water-going vessels, whether motorized or not, and specifically includes, without limitation, power boats, power yachts and sailing vessels.

The docking line 102 is useful for securing watercraft to structures 104 or docks containing a closed cleating system, such as, for example, a dock rail. By closed cleating system, it is meant a system, method, or device in which the docking line must be threaded through a closed opening, rather than merely being lassoed by a loop in the docking line. For contradistinction, a vertical piling (not shown) is not considered, for purposes of this disclosure, to be a closed cleating system because the docking line need only be lassoed about the pilling, rather than threaded through an opening. It will be appreciated, however, that the docking line 102 illustrated in FIGS. 1-2B may also be used with vertical pilings or open cleat systems. In FIG. 1, for illustrative purposes, one of many types of closed cleating systems 106 is shown in the form of a dock rail.

Turning now to a more specific description of the docking line 102, the docking line 102 comprises a second end 108, which may include a conventional loop, may be just a free end, or may otherwise be adapted to couple to a watercraft. In FIG. 1, the second end 108 of docking line 102 is shown secured to a deck cleat 110 on watercraft 100. Opposite the second end 108 is a first end 112 to which a coupling device 114 may be coupled. The coupling device 114 may preferably be a spring-loaded, hook-type, device, such as, but not limited to, a carabiner. Coupling device 114 may, but need not, be self-latching. Coupling device 114 may preferably be fabricated from a material that is sufficiently strong to react the docking loads from the watercraft and sufficiently corrosion-resistant for use in a marine environment. For example, and without limitation, in one of many possible embodiments of the present invention, the coupling device 114 may be made from marine-grade stainless steel, an aluminum or brass alloy, a composite material, or another corrosion-resistant material. In FIG. 1, for illustrative purposes, the coupling device 114 is shown to be secured to the first end 112 of docking line 102 through an eye or loop 116, which may be formed in or attached to the first end 112 in any known manner. However, it will be understood that coupling device 114 may be coupled to first end 112 in any manner required by a particular application, removably or otherwise, such as by tying, fastening with fasteners, forming integrally therewith, or other means, in whole or in part.

A first receptacle 118 may be coupled to docking line 102 at a predetermined or selected distance from first end 112, which may include being near or adjacent to first end 112. In a preferred embodiment, the first receptacle 118 may be fabricated from the same material as the coupling device 114, and may comprise a circular, oval, or other shaped closed ring. The receptacle 118 may be coupled to the docking line 102 by weaving the receptacle 118 within the strands of the rope (as illustrated in FIG. 1) or by any other conventional means of coupling such hardware to docking line 102.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is second receptacle 120. Second receptacle 120 may be spaced a second predetermined or selected distance from terminal end 112 and from the first receptacle 118. The second receptacle 120 may be the same as or different than the first receptacle 118. The second receptacle 120 is shown to be coupled to the docking line 102 by weaving or interlacing the receptacle itself with the line body, but may be coupled in any manner required by a particular application.

An alternative embodiment of the receptacles 118, 120 may take the form of an indented rod, such as receptacle 124. It will be appreciated that an indented rod receptacle 124 may be interlaced or woven into the docking line 102 at one or more desired locations. It will also be appreciated that numerous other receptacle-type structures may be used with the adjustable docking line 102.

As shown in FIG. 2A, for example, receptacles 118, 120, 124 may include an integral loop formed in a portion of the docking line body, and may, but need not, include a guard 126, such as a plastic or metal grommet, coupled therein, for example, to prevent wear. Each receptacle on the docking line 102 may be the same, but need not be, and alternatively one or more receptacles may be different, as required by a particular application. Each receptacle may be placed at any distance from the end of the docking line 102, or from an adjacent receptacle, and a particular embodiment of the docking line 102 may have any number of receptacles (or coupling devices) as desired or required.

Once the first end 112 has been threaded through an opening in the dock rail 106, the first end 112 may be looped back toward any of the one or more receptacles 118, 120, 124 and coupled thereto to secure the watercraft 100 to the dock 104. While only three receptacles 118, 120, 124 have been shown in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that any number of receptacles, and preferably two or more receptacles, may be coupled to docking line 102, depending on the length of the docking line, the amount of adjustability required, or other factors, such as the range of loop sizes required by a particular application.

While the coupling device 114 is shown fastened to the terminal first end 112 of the docking line 102 and the receptacles 118, 120, 124 are coupled to the body of the docking line 102, the orientation of these components can be switched without departing from the spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Namely, a receptacle 118, such as a ring, may be fastened to the first end 112 of the docking line 102 and a plurality of coupling devices 114 may be coupled to the body of the docking line 102 at various predetermined locations along its length (see FIG. 2B). It will also be appreciated that the docking line 102 of the present invention may have the second end 108 secured to the dock 104 in any conventional fashion and the first, adjustable end of the docking line 102 may be secured to the watercraft 100, such as to cleat 108.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, one or more further embodiments incorporating aspects of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 3 illustrates one of many embodiments of an adjustable docking line 300 with releasable line clamps 306 and utilizing certain aspects of the present invention. Docking line 300 may include two or more line portions, such as a main portion 302 and one or more receptacle portions 304, which may, but need not, have the same length. Main portion 302 and receptacle portion 304 may be generally parallel to one another and may, but need not, be of the same form, such as having the same diameter or being made from the same material. Docking line 300 may include two or more clamps 306, or pairs of clamps, such as releasable clamps, for securely coupling main portion 302 and receptacle portion 304 together in one or more positions along the length of main portion 302 to form receptacles 308.

For example, a pair of clamps 306 may be coupled to docking line 300 a predetermined or selected distance from one another to form a receptacle 308 (e.g., a loop) there between. The length of one portion of docking line 300, such as the receptacle portion 304, between two clamps 306 may, but need not, be greater than the other portion. In this manner, a receptacle 308 of any size required by a particular application may be formed between two particular clamps 306 by adjusting the length of one or more portions of docking line 300 there between.

While the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows two receptacles 308 for illustrative purposes, this need not be the case and docking line 300 may only include a single pair of movable clamps 306 that can be selectively disposed anywhere along the length of docking line 300 to form a receptacle required by a particular application. The position of each clamp 306, and thus of a receptacle 308, on line 300 may preferably be quickly and easily adjustable, for example, by uncoupling the clamp from the line, in whole or in part, moving the clamp to another position, and re-coupling the clamp to the line. Each clamp 306 may preferably be at least partially movable without being entirely uncoupled from line 300, for example, to prevent accidental loss of the clamp (e.g., dropping into the water) during use.

FIG. 4 illustrates another of the many possible embodiments of an adjustable docking line. Docking line 400 may include a line body 402 and a releasable gripping device 410 coupled to one end 404. Gripping device 410 may be selectively coupled at any position or location on line body 402 thereby forming a loop as required by a particular application. Gripping device 410 may include structure or mechanisms, such as a cam, grip, stop, or teeth, configured to allow the device 410 releaseably grip the main portion 402 to form the docking loop. Coupling device 410 may, but need not, be configured to allow line body 402 to slide there through in only one direction.

Other and further embodiments utilizing one or more aspects of the inventions described above can be devised without departing from the spirit of Applicant's invention. The order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Similarly, elements have been described functionally and can be embodied as separate components or can be combined into components having multiple functions.

The invention has been described in the context of preferred and other embodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has been described. Obvious modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by us, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, we intend to fully protect all such modifications and improvements that come within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims. 

1. An adjustable line for releaseably securing a watercraft to a structure having a closed cleat system, the adjustable line comprising: a line body having a first terminal end and a second terminal end; a coupling system having a first portion and a second portion, each portion adapted to releaseably couple to one another, wherein the first portion is coupled to the first terminal end and the second portion is disposed between the first and second terminal ends a predetermined distance from the first terminal end; and wherein the predetermined distance is sufficient to form a docking loop cooperating with the closed cleat system when the first and second portions are coupled to one another.
 2. The line of claim 1, wherein the second portion is closer to the first terminal end than to the second terminal end.
 3. The line of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle being spaced a different predetermined distance from the first terminal end, and wherein the first portion comprises a coupling device configured to releaseably couple to each of the plurality of receptacles.
 4. The line of claim 3, wherein the coupling device is a carabiner.
 5. The line of claim 4, wherein the carabiner has a spring-loaded latch.
 6. The line of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of receptacles is a ring.
 7. The line of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of receptacles is a loop formed integrally in the docking line body.
 8. The line of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises a plurality of coupling devices, each coupling device being spaced a different predetermined distance from the first terminal end, and wherein the first portion comprises a receptacle configured to releaseably couple to each of the plurality of coupling devices.
 9. The line of claim 1, wherein the line body further comprises a main line portion and a receptacle line portion and a pair of movable clamps adapted to removably couple the main line portion and the receptacle line portion together thereby adjustably forming the second portion of the coupling system between the pair of clamps.
 10. The line of claim 1, wherein the second portion is the line body and the first portion is a releasable coupling device configured to securely couple to the line body.
 11. The line of claim 10, wherein the releasable coupling is configured to couple to the line body at predetermined locations.
 12. The line of claim 10, wherein the second portion comprises one or more receptacles coupled to the docking line body.
 13. A method of securing a watercraft to a dock having a closed cleating system, comprising: maneuvering the watercraft alongside the dock; providing a docking line having a docking line body with a first terminal end and a second terminal end, a coupling system having a first portion and a second portion, each portion adapted to releaseably couple to one another, wherein the first portion is coupled to the first terminal end and the second portion is disposed between the first and second terminal ends a predetermined distance from the first terminal end; securing the second terminal end of the docking line to the watercraft; threading the first terminal end of the docking line through an opening in the closed cleating system; and coupling the first and second portions of the coupling system to one another thereby securing the watercraft to the dock.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein coupling comprises removably coupling a coupling device and a receptacle to one another.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising removably coupling a coupling device to the docking line body. 